Karawara Vision

Karawara was originally developed in the early 1970s using ‘Radburn’ design principles based around the presence of Public Open Space (POS) reserves for community use which are located to the rear of dwellings and connected to the road network by Pedestrian Access Ways (PAWs).

2006

In December 2006, Council resolved to review the Town Planning Scheme provisions relating to the interface between Karawara’s POS network and private properties due to community concerns on a number of related issues. 

2009-2010

In 2009, the City engaged consultants Creating Communities Australia and Development Planning Strategies to undertake consultation with landowners, residents and other local stakeholders to identify ways to further enhance and improve Karawara. Extensive community engagement undertaken by consultants included community workshops and surveys during 2009 and 2010.

A number of issues, concerns and suggestions were raised by the community throughout the various phases of consultation, specifically in regard to the design and physical layout of Karawara. A lack of regular activity in the large areas of public space and lack of surveillance from adjoining properties were identified as factors contributing to the perceived high levels of crime and anti-social behaviour in the area. However, feedback also indicated a desire to retain the open space network whilst undertaking some minor design changes and improving the functionality, presentation and safety of Karawara.

Members of the Karawara community expressed many different views on how the suburb should be physically modified to address the identified issues which mainly centred on crime and safety. Varying opinions were expressed as to whether the POS reserves and PAWs should be closed and divided between adjoining properties, or enhanced and remain open. Based on community feedback, the consultants recommended that the City close some of the narrow POS links at the rear of houses and connecting PAWs. Two alternate options for POS and PAW closures were developed for the City by Development Planning Strategies.

Further investigations and consultation with service authorities regarding existing services and infrastructure located within the affected areas revealed that due to the location of water and sewer mains operated by the Water Corporation, only one of the two closure options could be considered. The remaining closure option provided by Development Planning Strategies became the only viable method of closing some of the narrow walkways behind houses. Implementation of the proposed closure plan would involve the legal closure of public land PAWs and POS and the associated sale and/or distribution of this land to adjoining landowners.

2012

In January 2012, the proposed closure plan was distributed to all Karawara landowners and residents for comment. In August 2012, Council resolved the following regarding potential closure of selected PAWs and POS links in Karawara:

1. The City develops a procedural policy specific to PAW/POS reserve closures in Karawara to guide officers in the implementation of closures and this policy be adopted by Council before pursuing closures
2. The City advise submitters of the above Council decision
3. The procedural policy shall require that before any closure of a PAW/POS be considered, that all residents directly affected by the closure be required to provide their support
4. The POS that runs between Meathcare and the rear of the four houses in Lenna Court be retained and that there be no requirement for the re-opening of the PAW between number 7 and 12 Lenna Court; and
5. No action be taken to require the owners of number 11 and 16 Woonan Place to reopen the PAW between their properties.

In October 2012, landscape architecture firms UDLA and CoDesign were engaged to develop the Karawara Public Open Space Masterplan and Collaborative Action Plan (the Master Plan). The project brief focused on maximising community and stakeholder input.

2013-2019

In December 2013, the Council endorsed the Master Plan and commenced a number of projects to facilitate its implementation. 

Project 10 of the Master Plan sought to test and evaluate the closure of one PAW. The PAW to the east of Yallambee Place was used as a test case. In order to close the PAW, the PAW land would need to be purchased and amalgamated with the adjoining lots. At the time a number of constraints were identified, and it was identified that there would be little advantage for owners to take on additional land. Additionally the timeframe was another constraint, which required a full commitment from Council to progress closure, with consent from the Minister for Lands. This process, outlined in the Procedure for the closure of pedestrian access ways (October, 2009) requires:

• Reasons for requesting the disposal
• Obtain consent from Western Australian Planning Commission
• Referral to the public service authorities to confirm that no services are going to be affected with the proposal
• Details of the level of public consultation undertaken and results of that consultation
• Signpost the area
• Advertise in a local newspaper
• Canvas nearby landowners
• Minister for Department of Lands makes decision (2 or more years determination timeframe)
• City purchase from Department of Lands for $500 or 5%, whichever is greater plus any statutory fees
• Land sold to adjacent land owners

This test was undertaken by the City in 2015 and involved the distribution of letters to the 12 landowners adjoining the PAW, which resulted in nine responses; six in support, two with conditional support, one objection and remaining landowners did not respond. Therefore the test had 50% of support from landowners.

Council at its 23 February 2016 meeting considered a report on this outcome and resolved not the close the PAW and instead sought to pursue alternative measures to improve the environment of the PAWs. 

In addition to the implementation of physical infrastructure and social initiatives, the City has been actively promoting and facilitating community development initiatives to provide support services to local residents such as sausage sizzles, children’s activities, live acoustic music and naming the park outside the Gowrie Community Centre.

From 2016 onwards, further larger scale events and activities were facilitated by the City. These have included:

• Tree planting day where residents planted trees supplied by the City in one of the Karawara laneways
• Picnic and play event to mark the delivery and opening of the new Central Playground
• Native garden planting activity with resident involvement in the planting of a native garden at the entrance to a laneway on Gillon Street between Yallambee Close and Beenan Street
• Summer splash event involving a water fight through the Karawara greenways with local families, WA Police, the local fire brigade, and St John Ambulance.
  

The location of where projects have been realised can be identified on the Spatial Local of Karawara Master Plan Projects map.